Roll loading system for textile drafting and spinning frames



Patented Jan. 6, 1953 UNITED STATES rTENT OFFICE 2,624,076 ROLL LOADING SYSTEM FOR TEXTILE DRAFTING AND SPINNING FRAMES Edward G. Whittaker, New Rochelle, N. Y. Application February 21, 1948, Serial No. 10,035

(Cl. lil-135) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to textile roll frames for partly in cross-section of a roll frame, in this instance a spinning frame, illustrating one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a partly diagrammatic plan View showing va multiplicity of aligned roll sets and load-controlling parts associated with the operator-controlled means to apply or to relieve the spring load with respect to such multiplicity.

Referring to the drawing in more detail, the spinning frame shown by way of example is similar to that of the copending application above identified, now Patent No. v 2,532,275 the main table being seen at I and a'portion of the spindle `ail at 2. One of the roll stands is designated generally at 3, a series thereof being distributed along the table I' in appropriately spaced relation. The exemplary frame of the drawing is equipped with roll sets arranged in three lines or pairs, and including front, intermediate and back lower rolls 6, 8 and I0 rand cooperating front, intermediate and back top rolls 1,'9 and I I. The shafts of the driven ,lower rolls are rotatably received in bearings 6a, 8d and Illa. on the bed 4 of the roll stand 3. The top back roll II which may be commonV toa plurality of lines of draft is held onv a cap bar I2Jpivotedas at I3 in a bracket on the lower rear bearing block Ia.

In the present'example'the front and intermecliate top rolls 'i and S are unitarily held in a cradle or carrier designated generally at I5, more fullydisclosed and claimed in the copending application mentioned. This plural-roll carrier has bearing slots I6, I'I at the front and rear portions for the corresponding top rolls 'I and 9. Releasably interlocking top covers I8, I9 pivoted on the carrier position. The carrier I' further comprises a central lower portion 25 depending between the front and intermediate lower roll lines and 3. As .illustrated the drafting elementsY include paired lower and upper aprons encompassing the lower and upper intermediate rolls 8, 9 and extending forwardly toward the front roll pair, with the Yfront portions guided about lower and upper apron extenders 28, 29 mounted on the cradle I5. .Rotary top clearers 2 are indicated partly diagrammatically at 30 and 3|.

The loading or Weighting system of the present invention is especially suited for use with roll-frames having plural-roll carrier or cradle assembly units as above described, it being noted that one such carrier unit is furnished for each roving sliver or line of draft, such carrier units being distributed longitudinally along the frame as more fully shown in my copending application, now Patent No. 2,532,275. It is, however, applicable as well to other types and constructions of top roll carriers, Whether with or without aprons, including carriers for a greater or less number of top rolls than the twin or tandem unitary arrangement here shown.

' tensioning and de-tensioning means.

at 20, 2| retain these rolls inoperative 26, 21 respectively Turning now more particularly to the loading mechanism, the main element of the latter comprises a coil spring loader or tensioner 40 acting between the carrier I5 and a variably positionable For -prothe spring 40 dewithin which it the axial directective and guiding purposes sirably is enclosed in a cage 4I is free to expand or to contract in tion.

The carrier-loading spring 40 is disposed with the axis generally perpendicular to the path of draft. The upper end is formed or provided with a hook 42 releasably engageable in an eye 43 on the carrier I5, herein having threaded attachment to the lower carrier portion 25. The other or lower end of the spring 40 is integrally or otherwise provided with a hook 44 releasably engaging a receiving aperture in a radial projection 45on a circular strap or collar 46. This collar 46 is snugly but freely fitted about the grooved periphery of an eccentric or cam 50 on a rock shaft 52 the turning of which in one or the opposite directions imposes vor relieves the tensioning action with respect to the spring ,40.

In the position illustrated the spring 40 isassumed to be substantially de-tensioned, the broader portion of the eccentric 50 having been turned counter-clockwise'toward the spring.

YOne such loading device including aspring 40 and eccentric cam 50 is provided for each carrier I5 of the particular frame. If individual control is desired for each carrier or for a number less than all thereof the 'rockA shaftliz may have independent sections with manual 4operating means 'for' each section.l #Preferablythe rock shaft 52 is of alength to -accomniodatethe cams 5|) for groups of'adjacent carriers and it .may extend the full length of the frame so as to operate all of the camsQSuitabIebearing support for the -shaftisproyided at the lower'ba'ckportion of the roll stands 3 as by bearing brackets 53. The several eccentrics 50 are each adjustably held in angularly fixed position on the corresponding portion of the singleor plural-section shaft as` by means of lock studs 54.

Means conveniently available to the operator is provided for rotatively shifting the eccentrics 50 to tension or cle-tension the corresponding carriers. Such means may be installed at one or more convenient locations along the frame and in the instance of individual or group control a hand lever, crank or the like may be provided for each eccentric. In the accompanying drawing foot-operated means is illustrated for the purpose including a short lever 60 having at one end a collar 6| adjustably held in xed angular position on the rock shaft 52 as by a set screw (S2. The other end of the lever 60 is pivotally connected as at 63 to the forked upper end E4 of a connector 65 having a threaded longitudinal socket E6.

The manual control means illustrated further comprises a treadle having one end pivoted as Y at 1| on a convenient stationary portion of the frame the opposite end, being extended to the front of the frame and there presenting a pedal l2. It is noted that in the drawing a major portion of the height of the frame isl broken away to conserve space. At an intermediate portion of the treadle l, a rear portion of which is broken away, there is pivotally attached as at 'I3 the lower end of an operating rod 14 having threaded connection as at 'l5 with the threaded socket 56 of the connector 65, By reason of the threaded connection the spacing between the treadle 'ill and the operating lever 60 may be adjusted to vary the throw of the cam and correspondingly to regulate the degree vof spring tensioning.

As Stated the springl 40 is shown in relieved or substantially maximum contracted condition, the broad portion of the eccentric 5i! being turned toward it and the operating lever 60 being ele.- vated. Depression of the treadle 'I0 rocks the shaft 52 clockwise, turning the broad portion of the eccentric 50 away from the spring and consequently extending the latter. The center line of the lever 6U in the depressed position thereof is represented by the broken line at 60a. Holddown means for the treadle desirably is provided, such as the latch 8U on a leg 8| pivoted as at Sla on the spindle rail 2 or other convenient portion of the frame, the latch having a normal treadle holdedown position to which it is urged by gravity, spring means or otherwise. Thus during operation the loading system is locked in carrier-tensioning status. On releasing the latch 80 the shaft means 52 Vmay beturned to spring-` relieving position shown, this action and attendant raising of the treadle generally taking place automatically under the influence of the spring 40. Y

with the parts adjusted as in the drawing the spring-loading is applied by depressing the pedal, the latter being locked down during running of the frame. when the frame is .not in use it is desirable that the loading of the carriers be re.- liSVed. and said arrangement .facilitates .Such manner of control. However, it Willbe apparent that by appropriate adjustment of the angular position of the eccentrics 5,0 and ef the lever or levers 60 upon the Shaft 5.2. the opposite action may be had, namely, relieving of the spring load by depression 0f the treadle.

The springd-oading means of the invention is especially adapted to longfdrafting spinning sys tems and particularly where leather or other endless belts or aprons are employed, in connection with which greater pressures for the top elements are necessary. Heretofore the pressure has generally been achieved by using dead weights which of themselves greatly add to the overall mass and weight of the frame, this loading weight by itself frequently mounting to 700 lbs. or more for a frame of 384 spindles by way of example. By utilizing spring energy -to accomplish the loading or Weighting in accordance with the present invention the total weight of the frame is importantly reduced.

My invention is not limited to the particular embodiment thereof illustrated or described herein, and I set forth its scope in my following claims:

1. For textile drafting and spinning frames having a multiplicity of axially aligned sets of lower. and upper rolls.I each such, roll Set having an overlying carrier for one or more upper rolls. mechanism simultaneously operable for all the several sets for loading and at will relieving such upper roll carrier and the rolls thereof, comprising in combination. a rook Shaft extending lengthwise of the frame, longitudinally aligned spaced bearings on the frame rotatably supporting the shaft, eccentrics adjustably fixed on the shaft, one for each roll s et, a collar loosely surrounding each eccentric, a coil spring having the opposite Vends connected respectively to the carrier and to the eccentric collar for each roll set, and operator-.controlled means to turn the Shaft thereby to apply or to relieve the spring load with respect to all the carriers.

2. Mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the operator-controlled means includes a treadle, a radial lever angularly adjustably fixed on the shaft and an adjustable connecting rod between the tr-eadle and lever.

8. Altop-roll carrier loading system for textile roll frames having a plurality of roll and upper carrier sets distributed lengthwise along them, comprising for each carrier a coil spring connected at. one end to the lower portion thereof and a spring conditioning unit connected to the other end yof the spring, said unit including an eccentric cam and encompassing collar, a common rock shaft, element extending lengthwise of the frame and having the cams of the conditioning units angularly rfixed thereon each with capacity for individual angular adjustment, and manual means to turn the shaft element in one and the opposite direction thereby simultaneously to rock all of the eccentric cams to tension and de-tension the .carriers accordingly- EDV/'ARD G. 'WI-IITTAKER.

REFERENCES .CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED sTA'rEs PATENTS QTHERV REFERENCES s. N. 394,670. Marron di.' P. vo. .published Apr. 

